Sound-emitting underwater toy

ABSTRACT

A hand-held underwater toy includes a moveable jaw member and a trigger mechanism attached to that jaw member to open the jaw, allowing the user to capture underwater objects within the jaw. Each time the trigger mechanism is activated, the toy may emit a pre-selected sound. Vent holes in the body of the toy allow water to exit the toy as the toy is moved forward in or under water.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/501,965, filed on May 5, 2017, and entitled SOUND-EMITTING UNDERWATER TOY, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Underwater toys such as dive sticks are extremely popular recreational devices for use at a swimming pool or other body of water. Many such toys are employed in competitive games that involve capturing an underwater object. The instant invention provides a novel construction for a hand-held underwater toy that may be used in such a game.

In particular, in one aspect of this invention, a hand-held toy simulates the action of a large fish chasing and capturing small (toy) fish or other objects in its jaws. A trigger mechanism on the body of the toy opens the upper jaw, and each time the trigger mechanism is activated, the fish may emit a pre-selected sound.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. In the figures:

FIG. 1 depicts an underwater toy in accordance with one aspect of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 depicts the toy with its jaw member in open position.

FIG. 3 depicts four small objects that may be targets for capture in the jaws of the toy.

FIG. 4 illustrates the location of the batteries that power the sound-emitting chip.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the toy, showing the sound and vent holes

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing more vent holes.

FIG. 7 illustrates the internal workings of the trigger mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As previously indicated, in one aspect of the invention, the toy 10 is shaped like a fish with large jaws, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A trigger mechanism 14 hingedly attached to body 12, is mechanically linked to the upper jaw 16 of the fish (see FIG. 7). When the trigger 14 is squeezed, the upper jaw 16 pivots upward, and when the trigger is released upper jaw 16 may return to its closed position due to the force of gravity. However, if the user opens the jaw while the toy is under water, the jaw may stay open while the user moves the toy forward, due to the rush of water into the jaws.

Small toy fish 30 depicted in FIG. 3, or other objects, may be introduced into the pool to serve as targets for capture by the device of the instant invention. Once a small fish 30 is “captured” in the open jaws it will stay there even if the jaws remain open. The toy 10 may also include a sound-emitting device 42 (FIG. 7) that is activated by the trigger mechanism (discussed below), so that whenever the trigger 14 is squeezed, a chosen, pre-programmed sound is emitted: such as a “chomping” sound.

FIG. 4 provides a side view of a toy 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. Upper jaw member 16 is hingedly attached the toy at pivot point 18 (see FIG. 4) and is mechanically attached to trigger 14 so that the upper jaw member 16 is moved upward by pulling or squeezing the trigger (See FIGS. 2 and 7). Batteries for powering the sound mechanism may be housed in compartment 32.

The toy is preferably constructed of plastic material in conventional fashion In the particular embodiment depicted here, the toy 10 may be 8.2 inches long and 2.8 inches wide. The movable upper jaw section 16 is approximately 3.5 inches long from front to rear edge.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a series of drainholes or vents 20 on each side of the toy allow water to pass through the jaws and out of the toy so that the user may continue to push the toy forward and gather all the target object within the jaws. Sound holes 22 permit the sound from the sound-emitting chip to project from the toy.

As seen in the bottom view of the toy 10 (FIG. 6), open slots 24 also allow water to flow into the open jaws and out of the toy.

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the trigger 14. Trigger 14 pivots about pivot point 36 to move cam 34 fixedly attached to upper jaw 16. Jaw 16 and cam 34 both pivot on pivot point 18. When the trigger is squeezed or pulled upward, the distal end of the trigger mechanism pushes cam 34 downward, causing upper jaw 16 to move upward about pivot point 18. At the same time the upward movement of trigger 14 activates switch 40, thereby providing power to sound chip 42. When the trigger is released, spring 38 causes the trigger to return to its original position. Upper jaw 16 will close due to gravity, unless the toy is thrust forward in water, which may keep the jaw from closing.

From the description of at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one of more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are mean to be exemplary and the actual parameters, dimensions, materials and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, with the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand-held toy comprising: a body member; a jaw member hingedly attached to and movable away from a closed position adjacent the body member, to an open position away from said body member; a trigger extending from the body member and attached to the moveable jaw member such that the squeezing of the trigger causes the moveable jaw member to pivot away from the body member, the moveable jaw member being free to return to its closed upon release of the trigger.
 2. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a sound emitting means located within the body and activated by the pulling of the trigger.
 3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the body member is shaped like a fish and includes a portion shaped like a lower jaw, said movable jaw member being adjacent said lower jaw portion when the moveable jaw member is in its closed position.
 4. The toy of claim 3 further comprising a sound emitting means located within the body member and activated by the pulling of the trigger.
 5. The toy of claim 1 wherein the body member further includes apertures adapted to permit the flow of air or water into and out of the body member when the moveable jaw member is in its open position.
 6. The toy of claim 3 wherein the body member further includes apertures adapted to permit the flow of air or water into and out of the body member when the moveable jaw member is in its open position. 